Portable adjustable sleep support device

ABSTRACT

A support device for supporting the head and/or portion of the upper body of a seated person in a forward leaning semi-reclining position includes a base to be placed on a generally horizontal surface, with support legs and an upright member, an extension tube adjustably positioned parallel to the upright member, and a head or body support connected to the upper end of the extension tube. In an alternative embodiment a pair of wheels is connected to the base and the legs are adapted to be positioned for supporting a piece of luggage, allowing the device to additionally serve as a luggage cart. In an improvement to a conventional luggage cart, an adjustable head support is added to the frame of the luggage cart so the cart may be used as a support device for a seated person.

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION

[0001] This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/482,756, filed Jun. 26, 2003, titled “PortableAdjustable Sleep Support Device”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to devices for supportingthe head and/or torso of a person for sleeping, and in its preferredembodiments more specifically relates to a portable, adjustable devicefor supporting the head or head and torso of a person seated in anupright position to facilitate resting or sleeping.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Many people have difficulty sitting comfortably in an unsupportedupright position for long periods of time, and many people havedifficulty resting or sleeping in an upright position during, e.g., longtrips in airplanes and other public or private conveyances. The spaceallocated for each person in such vehicles is limited and a seatedpassenger is constrained to a limited range of positions. Although seatsmay be reasonably comfortable for short period of time, over longerperiods of time they can become very uncomfortable and passengers oftenarrive at their destinations very stiff, sore, and tired. Variousapproaches have been used in an effort to address this problem andprovide an increased level of comfort, but devices known in the priorart have not proven to be fully effective in addressing the need.

[0004] In one approach, a device for supporting the head of a user has apadded rest on a frame that is hung around the user's neck and supportedby the neck and upper torso. Although this design allows the user torest his or her head, the weight of the head is simply transferred toanother part of the body and can result in strain on the neck.

[0005] In another approach, a device with members to fit under theuser's arms for supporting the upper body, in the manner of a pair ofcrutches, has been suggested. Various ways of providing support for theunderarm members have been disclosed. This design can achieve theprimary purpose of providing some relief to the back of the user, butrequires the user's upper body weight to be supported solely by a smallarea under the arms. The force imposed under the arms can impedecirculation and become very uncomfortable in a short period of time.Most examples of this design approach provide no support for the head.

[0006] Another approach discloses a seat structure in which a userfastens himself or herself into a vest-like arrangement to support thebody. The seat apparatus would necessarily be fixed in position in thevehicle, for use by each passenger who uses the seat, whether aparticular passenger needed the support or not.

[0007] There remains a need for a device to support the head of a seateduser, that is easily portable, easily positioned for use, compact, andeasily adjusted. There is also a need for such a support device tosupport a user in a comfortable forward leaning position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a device for supporting the headand/or a portion of the upper body of a seated user in a forward leaningposition. The device of the invention allows a user to assume, as nearlyas possible in a generally upright seat, a forward resting postureapproaching a horizontal, face down position. In its preferredembodiments the device of the invention includes a base that may beplaced upon the legs of a seated user, upon a seat beneath the legs of aseated user, or on the floor immediately in front of a seated user. Asupport pad assembly is disposed above the base and positioned so that auser may lean forward and place his or her forehead or the side or hisor her head against the support pad to support the head in a restfulposition. The base is preferably configured in an inverted “T” shape,and the support pad assembly preferably includes an extension tube thattelescopes relative to the upright member of the base, foradjustability.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment, the device of the invention isprovided with legs that pivot on an axis parallel to the axis of theupright member, and wheels are provided in the base structure, so thatthe device can be used as a light duty luggage carrier.

[0010] In a further alternative embodiment, an improvement to aconventional type luggage carrier is provided by the addition of asupport pad assembly, so that the luggage carrier structure can bepositioned in front of a seated user to function as the base of thesupport device, and the user's head rested on the support pad.

[0011] The structure and features of the preferred and alternativeembodiments of the support device of the invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a preferred embodiment of thedevice of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a variation of the base of thepreferred embodiment of the device of the invention.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of thedevice of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a variation of the headsupport structure for the device of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a first alternative embodiment of the device of theinvention, with a larger structure for supporting the head and body.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a second alternative embodiment of the device of theinvention, with hinged legs to facilitate transportation and storage.

[0018]FIG. 7 is a variation of the embodiment of FIG. 5, shown in use(seat and user's legs shown in phantom lines).

[0019]FIG. 8 is a further alternative embodiment of the device of theinvention, that may be supported upon a floor.

[0020]FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the device of the invention,adapted for a second use as a light-duty luggage cart.

[0021]FIG. 10 is a sectioned top plan view of the device as shown inFIG. 8, along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

[0022]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an improvement to a conventionalluggage cart, showing the addition of a support assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Referring to the drawing figures, the device, generallyidentified by reference numeral 10, comprises a base assembly 11 forsupporting the device upon the legs of a user or, in alternativeembodiments, upon a seat or the floor, and a support pad assembly 12 forsupporting the head or head and upper body of a user, adjustablyconnected to the base assembly.

[0024] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the base 11 includes apair of legs 13, extending in opposed parallel relation and outwardlyfrom upright support member 14, to which legs 13 are connected. It ispreferred that legs 13 and upright support member 14 be formed oftubular material, to reduce the weight of the device and facilitateportability. In a variation illustrated in FIG. 2, legs 13 may be formedas generally L-shaped members, each having a base portion 15 and anupright portion 16. The transition between the base portion and theupright portion of the legs in this variation is preferably curved. Eachleg may be encased in a cushion 17, for comfort and stability when thedevice is supported upon the legs of a user. In the illustratedembodiment, cushions 17 are tubular, and extend over legs 13, or thebase portion of the legs in the variation of FIG. 2. The upper end 18 ofupright 14 is open, and the lower end may be either open or closed, asdesired. A cushion, similar to cushions 17, may be added to the uprightmember, if desired, to reduce the chance of injury or damage in theevent of an accident.

[0025] Support pad assembly 12 includes a head support 19 with a paddedupper surface 20 and a lower surface 21, and an elongate extension tube22 connected at its upper end 23 to the lower surface of the headsupport. Head support 19 is configured to provide a rest for theforehead of a user, and is sized accordingly to be received against theforehead and provide a comfortable padded support for the head. It ispreferred that the connection between the extension tube and the headsupport be pivotal, using hinge 24, so the position of the head supportcan be adjusted. Hinge 24 may be a free hinge, or it may be providedwith a locking means to fix the angle of the head support relative tothe extension tube, if desired. Extension tube 22 is configured anddimensioned to fit within upright member 14 in sliding telescopingrelation, with the lower end of the extension tube within the hollowinterior of the upright member and the extension tube extendingoutwardly from the open upper end 18 of that member. A clamp 25 isprovided at the upper end of upright member 14 to releaseably lock theextension tube in a fixed position relative to the upright member.Clamps for locking telescoping tubes are well known in the art, and anydesired clamp design suitable for achieving the purpose of the clamp maybe used within the scope of the invention.

[0026] The first embodiment of the invention may be used by placing thebase portions 15 of legs 13 laterally across the thighs of a seateduser. Clamp 25 is loosened and the extension tube 22 is raised fromwithin the upright member 14 until the head support 19 is at the desiredheight for resting the user's forehead, and the clamp is again tightenedto hold the extension tube in the selected position. The user may thenrest his or her head against the head support. Cushions 17 serve thedual purpose of cushioning the user's legs and preventing the base ofthe device from slipping. When the use of the device is completed, clamp25 may be loosened and the extension tube pushed fully into the uprightmember to reduce the length of the device for easier transportation orstorage.

[0027] The basic embodiment of the device illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and3 is susceptible to a number of variations and alternative embodimentswithin the scope of the invention. In one such variation, shown in FIG.4, head support 19 could comprise a band or strap 26, suspended from ayoke 27 that is connected to the extension tube. Strap 26 could beformed of a mesh material, or penetrated by holes to allow aircirculation. The scope of the invention also encompasses a variation inwhich the extension tube and clamp are omitted and the length of theupright member increased, with the head support 19 connected to theupper end of the upright member. This construction, although within thescope of the invention, is not preferred, because the adjustability ofthe device is considered to be significant to the comfort of a user.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, head support 19 isreplaced by an expanded head and upper body support 28, upon which auser could rest a portion of his or her upper body as wall as the sideof his or her head. As with head support 19, the head and body supportof this alternative embodiment could be constructed as a flat orslightly curved padded board, or could be constructed with webbingsuspended upon a frame. The head and a body support is also preferablypivotally connected to the upper end of extension tube 22 so both theheight and the angle of the support structure can be adjusted to acomfortable position by the user. If needed, a brace 29 can be provided,extending from a pivotal connection to the lower surface of support 28to upright member 14. To allow adjustment of the angle of the support,brace 29 can be constructed with two telescoping tubes and a clamp, orwith a sliding collar and clamp to move along the upright member.

[0029] In another alternative embodiment, legs 13 are connected to theupright member 14 by hinges 30, as shown in FIG. 6, to allow the baseportions of the legs to be folded to lie parallel to the uprightportions of the legs and further facilitate transportation and storageof the device when it is not in use. If the leg embodiment of FIG. 2 isused, then hinges 30 may be used to connect base portions 15 to uprightportions 16. It is contemplated that the device of the invention will beused by passengers of aircraft and other public conveyances, and theability to collapse the device of the invention into a compact packageis a significant advantage. In one approach to the use of hinged legs,locking hinges are used, so that the base portion of the legs will lockin the extended position, perpendicular to the upright portion of thelegs, for use. When the user desires to fold the legs the locking hingecan be released and the base portion of the legs pivoted against theupright portion.

[0030] The device of the invention may also be used as shown in FIG. 7,by placing legs 13 of the device under a seated person's legs, restingupon and supported by the surface upon which the person is seated. Whenused in this manner the upright support member of the device extendsupward between the legs of the seated person rather than resting uponthem, and the weight of the resting person's head and/or upper body isnot imposed upon the person's legs. When a hinged leg embodiment is usedin this position the use of locking hinges is not required, because thedevice is secured and stabilized between the seating surface and theuser's legs.

[0031] In a further variation, the device of the invention may besupported upon the floor when in use, rather than by the user's legs orthe seat, with the upright components disposed just beyond the forwardedge of the seat. The length of upright support member 14 and extensiontube 22 may be increased so that the previously described embodiments ofthe invention may be used in this manner, or an alternative embodimentmay be provided, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In this embodiment a secondextension tube 31 and a second clamp 32 may be added, with extensiontube 22 received in second extension tube 31 in telescoping relation andwith second extension tube 31 received in upright member 14 intelescoping relation. The second clamp 32 is disposed at the upper endof extension tube 22, to releaseably lock the second extension tube. Theaddition of the second extension tube allows the expanded device to spanthe distance from the floor to the upper body and/or head of a seateduser, to support a partially reclining user from the floor. In thisembodiment inclusion of the legs, either folding or non-folding, ispreferred, for stability, and to allow the device to be supported uponthe user's legs or seat. A user may place his or her feet over the legswhen the device is in use supported from the floor, to hold the base ofthe device in place.

[0032] The design of the device of the invention can readily be adaptedto allow the device to be used as a light-duty luggage cart in additionto use as a sleep or resting support. To make the device convertibleinto a luggage cart, the base portions of the legs are constructed toallow them to be rotated in the same plane from a directly opposedorientation to a second position with an angular separation of less thanninety degrees, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and frictionally restrainedor releasably locked in that orientation. Wheels 33 are added to thebase in coaxial relation, preferably disposed such that the wheels arepositioned a short distance above the floor when the base portions 15 oflegs 13 are in contact with the floor. When the device is tilted towardthe wheels with the legs rotated to the luggage carrying configuration,wheels 33 are brought into contact with the floor such that furthertilting of the device results in rotation on the axis of the wheels toraise the base portions of the legs from the floor and allow the deviceto be rolled on the wheels. The distance between the wheels is such thatthe wheels will not interfere with the use of the device as a supportdevice when the legs are rotated to an opposed parallel orientation. Ahandle 34 of any convenient design is preferably connected to extensiontube 22 near its upper end, below the pivotal connection to, e.g., headsupport 19, so that the handle can be used to pull, or carry, the devicebut will not interfere with its use as a sleep or resting support. Touse the device as a cart, the base portions of the legs are rotated tothe second position and the extension tubes are extended to bring thestrap to an appropriate height for grasping and pulling. A briefcase orother relatively light object can be placed on the legs and supported bythem when the device is tilted to lift the legs from the floor andpulled to roll on the wheels.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 11, the support pad assembly 12 of the devicemay readily be adapted for addition to a conventional two wheeledluggage cart, in an improvement to allow an otherwise conventionalluggage cart to be used as a personal support for resting in a seatedposition. In the improvement embodiment of FIG. 11, a support 19 isprovided with a pair of extension tubes 22, each extending parallel to arespective one of upright handle members of the conventional cart. Inthe illustrated embodiment extension tubes extend through retainers 35,which may be connected either permanently or removably to the luggagecart handle. The addition of the support pad assembly does not interferewith the conventional use of the luggage cart, but provides a supportfor a seated person with the cart placed in front of the person. Theheight of the support pad assembly may be adjusted by adjusting theposition of the extension tubes and/or the position of the cart handle.

[0034] The foregoing description of the structure and use of the deviceof the invention, and of certain variations and alternative embodiments,is illustrative of the scope of the invention. The invention is notlimited to the particular embodiments described, and is susceptible tofurther variations and alternatives within the scope thereof, as recitedby the following claims.

1. An adjustable support device for supporting a seated person in aforward leaning semi-reclined resting position, comprising a base havingan upright support member and a pair of legs connected to said uprightsupport member in generally perpendicular relation thereto and inopposed mutually parallel relation to each other, said base to be placedand supported upon a generally horizontal surface with said uprightsupport member extending upwardly therefrom; and a support pad assemblyincluding an extension tube with first and second ends, disposedparallel to said upright support member in overlapping sliding relationthereto, locking means for releasably locking the position of saidextension tube relative to said upright support member, and a headsupport connected to said second end of said extension tube to receiveand support the head of a seated person leaning forward over thehorizontal surface upon which said base is supported.
 2. The supportdevice of claim 1, wherein said upright support member comprises anelongate tube with a hollow interior, said extension tube comprises anelongate tube of smaller cross-sectional dimension than said uprightsupport member, and wherein said extension tube is disposed in coaxialtelescoping relation with said upright support member with said firstend of said extension tube received in said hollow interior of saidupright support member.
 3. The support device of claim 1, wherein saidhead support is pivotally connected to said second end of said extensiontube.
 4. The support device of claim 1, wherein said legs of said baseare encased in resilient padding material.
 5. The support device ofclaim 1, wherein said head support comprises a generally planar platewith a lower surface and an upper surface, said lower surface of saidhead support is connected to said second end of said extension tube, andwherein said head support includes padding material connected to saidupper face thereof.
 6. The support device of claim 1, wherein each ofsaid legs is connected to said upright support member by hinge means,such that said legs may be disposed in a first position with said legsgenerally perpendicular to said upright support member for use of thedevice, and in a second position with said legs generally parallel tosaid upright support member for transportation and storage of thedevice.
 7. The support device of claim 6, wherein said hinge meanscomprising locking hinges, such that said legs may be releasably lockedin said first position.
 8. The support device of claim 1, furthercomprising a body support interconnected to said extension tube adjacentto said second end thereof and extending at an angle relative to saidextension tube, to receive and support a portion of the upper body of aseated person leaning forward over said horizontal surface upon whichsaid base is supported.
 9. The support device of claim 8, wherein saidhead support is integral with said body support.
 10. The support deviceof claim 8, further comprising a brace extending between said bodysupport and said upright support member of said base.
 11. The supportdevice of claim 10, wherein said base is adjustable in length.
 12. Acombination support device, for supporting a seated person in a forwardleaning semi-reclined resting position, and wheeled luggage cart,comprising a base including a hollow tubular upright support memberhaving a first end and a second end, a pair of legs each having a firstend and a second end, said legs disposed generally perpendicular to saidupright support member with said first end of each of said legspivotally connected to said first end of said upright support membersuch that said legs are moveable between a first position in which saidlegs are in opposed parallel relation on either side of said uprightsupport member, and a second position in which said legs are disposed atan angle of less than ninety degrees relative to each other, and a pairof wheels rotatably mounted at said first end of said upright supportmember so as to allow said base to be rolled along a surface on saidwheels; and a support pad assembly including an extension tube withfirst and second ends, disposed in coaxial telescoping relation withsaid upright support member with said first end of said extension tubereceived in said hollow interior of said upright support member, lockingmeans for releasably locking the position of said extension tuberelative to said upright support member, a head support connected tosaid second end of said extension tube to receive and support the headof a seated person leaning forward over the device when used as asupport device, and handle means for rolling the device along a surfacewhen used as a luggage cart.
 13. The combination support device andwheeled luggage cart of claim 12, wherein said head support is pivotallyconnected to said second end of said extension tube.
 14. The combinationsupport device and wheeled luggage cart of claim 12, wherein said headsupport comprises a generally planar plate with a lower surface and apadded upper surface, said lower surface of said head support ispivotally connected to said second end of said extension tube, and saidhandle means is connected to and extends outwardly from said lowersurface of said head support.
 15. The combination support device andwheeled luggage cart of claim 12, wherein said handle means is connectedto said extension tube adjacent to said second end thereof.
 16. Animproved luggage cart of the type having wheels disposed in coaxialalignment, a base for supporting the cart in a generally uprightorientation when at rest, a extendable handle with an upper end, thehandle adjustable to different heights from the base, the improvementcomprising a body support connected to the handle of the luggage cartadjacent to the upper end of the handle, for receiving and supporting aportion of the upper body of a person leaning forward from a seatedposition with the base of the luggage cart disposed in front of theperson and the handle of the luggage cart extending upward between thelegs of the seated person.
 17. The improved luggage cart of claim 17,wherein said body support is pivotally connected to the handle of theluggage cart.
 18. The improved luggage cart of claim 17, wherein saidbody support comprises a generally planar plate with a lower surface andan upper surface, said lower surface of said head support is connectedto the handle of the luggage cart, and wherein said head supportincludes padding material connected to said upper face thereof.
 19. Theimproved luggage cart of claim 17, further comprising locking means forreleasably locking the extendable handle of the luggage cart at aselected height above the base.